Apparatus for soldering or joining the seams of can-bodies.



No. 724,785. PATENTED APR. 7, 1903.

v r G. WJSERRY.

APPARATUS FOR SOLDERING 0R JOINING THE SEAMS OF CAN BODIES.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 20, 1902. H0 MODEL. f 6 SHEETS-SHEET l grayed/6 2'flt/isses I j w w .flod wh W vdvva (A No.724,'785. PATENTED APR,7,1909. F v

I G. W. BERRY. APPARATUS FOR SOLDERING 0R JOINING THE SEAMS 0F oANBODIES.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 20, 1902.

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110,724,785. PATENTED APR. 7, 1903.

G.. W. BERRY. APPARATUS FOR SOLDIERIING 0R JOINING THE ISEAMS? OF SANBODIES.

. APPLICATION FILED MAR. 20, 1902. N0 MODEL. 8 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

No. 724,785. PATENTED APR. 7, 1903. i G. W. BERRY.

APPARATUS FOR SOLDERING 0R JOINING THE SEAMS OF CAN BODIES.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 20, 1902. N0 MODEL. 6 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

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No. 724,785. I A PATENTED APR.7,19O3'.

' v G. BERRY. APPARATUS FOR SOLDERING OR JOINING THE SBAMS OFGANIBODIBS.

APPLICATION PILBD AR; 20, 1902. no MODEL. 6 sums-51mm a.

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No. 724,785. v PATENTED APR. 7, 1903.

G. W. BERRY. APPARATUS FOR SOLDERING 0R JOINING THE SEAMS 0? CAN BODIES.

APPLIGATION FILED MAR. 20, 1902. 1T0 MODEL. '6 SHEETS-SHEET e UNITEDSTATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEbRGE WILLIAM BERRY,.OF ALBERT PARK, NEAR MELBOURNE, VICTORIA,AUSTRALIA.

APPARATUS FOR SOLD ERING R lOlNlNG THE SEAMS OF CAN-BODIES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of ,Letters Patent No. 724,785, dated April7, 1903.

' Application filed March 20,1902. Serial No. 99,160. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE WILLIAM BERRY, tinsmith, a subject of theKing of Great Britain,residing at No. 99 Merton street, Albert Park,near Melbourne, in the State of Victoria, Commonwealth of Australia,have invented certain new and useful Improved Apparatus for Soldering orJoining the Seams of Can-Bodies, of which the following is aspecification.

The object of my invention is to provide mechanical means for solderingor joining the seams of can-bodies of various sizes in a moreexpeditious and neater manner than heretofore and with less material.

Having reference to the annexed sheets of drawings explanatory of myinvention, Fig ure 1 is a plan, and Fig. 2 a front elevation, of myapparatus. Fig. 3 is a vertical transverse section on the line 3 3 ofFig. 1 with parts omitted for the sake of clearness. Figs. 4 and 5 arefragmentary vertical transverse sections on the lines 4 4 and 5 5,respectively,

of Fig. 1, illustrating the parts not shown in Fig. 3. Figs. 6, 7, 8,and 9 are enlarged detail drawings showing the can-bodies in positionwhen ready to be soldered. .Fig. 10 is an enlarged plan view of themechanism for cleaning the soldering-irons, and Fig. 11 is a verticalsection on line 11 11 of Fig. 10.

The apparatus may be actuated entirely by motive power on a large scale;but with small apparatus, such as that illustrated, the hands and'feetof the operator may be employed.

Upon upright brackets a on a horizontal bar I), extending from verticalside supports 0, constituting the main frame, are arranged any desirednumber of cylinders d of the diameter of the can-bodies to be soldered,and on either side of said cylinders movable curved spring clamps orgrips e, adjustably mounted at e on a pair of transverse parallel bars fg, are provided so as to be capable of gripping the partially-formedcan-bodies h onto said cylinders d and holding the same by means of thecoiled springs i j on the ends of said bars f g while the soldering-ironk is run over the adjacent edges and then freeing the same when they areautomatically thrown ofi or pushed forwardly by wire ejectors s from therear. A pedal 1 is mounted on a rook-shaft m, from which extendlever-arms n. On said lever-arms are pivoted vertically-sliding rods 0,having projections 13,

adapted to engage with and raise the arms q of bell-crank levers mountedupon brackets on the side supports 0. The other arms '1 of the leversare pivotally connected to the bars fand g at the opposite ends to whichthe springs U are attached, said bars sliding lat- 6o erally in the sideframes 0 under the influence of said springs to release the grips e fromthe can-bodies when the pedal Z is depressed.

The wire ej soldered can-bodies, are mounted in small standards t on apair of reciprocating bars to, attached to or made integral with blocks0), one'of which is adapted to be drawn forward along a guide-rail w bya spring-hook a, on a traveler y when the pedal 1 is depressed.

At the end of the forward movement of the traveler y the spring-hook :0comes in contact with a log 2, projecting laterally from the ectors s,which throw ofi the side support 0, which disengages it from the block0, when the reciprocating bars u, carrying the ejectors s, are returnedto their rearward position by the power of the coiled spring 1,surrounding the guide-rail w, which spring was compressed by the forwardmovement just described.

The reciprocating traveler 'y is propelled forward along its guide-rail2 by the arms 3 and 4, pivotally connected to a bell-crank lever 5,mounted on the side supports, the

whole deriving its motion from the pedal 1, as illustrated in Fig. 3.When the next canbody is in position anda spring trip-catch 12,hereinafter referred to, is rel'eased,the traveler y returns rearwardlyand the spring-catch 00, 9o

contacting with the beveled top of the block 41, slides up andeventually slips over the end of it, ready for the next forward movementfor ejecting the soldered can-bodies.

The forward ends of the ejector-wires 3- pass 5 front, said cylindersbeing slightly curved inwardly at the front, as illustrated at 8, Figs.4, 7, and 8, to facilitate this and the adjacent edges being arranged tocome on top (see Fig. (5) between pairs of inclined guide-plates 9,arranged longitudinally of the cylinders and preferably made ofaluminium to prevent the metal adhering. Said guide-plates 9 areadjustably mounted upon pillars 10 on a horizontal bar 11, which issecured to the upper end of the rod 0 and so raised by the pedal at thesame time as the grips e are freed, thus permitting the next pair ofcan-bodies to be pushed onto the cylinders, said guide-plates beinglowered when they are on by releasing the springtrip-catch 12,whichholds the pedal down until the can-bodiesare in position.

In order that the adjacent edges of the canbody may always fit inposition between the guide-plates 9 without any particular care, twospring lugs or pins 13 project through each cylinder, so that the underedge of the can-body abuts against them until said guideplates 9 arelowered, when they are pushed down into tubes 14 in the cylinder outof-the way. The cylinders have also projecting stop-pins 15, againstwhich the ends of the can-bodies abut, and a hook 16 to temporarily keepthem down on the cylinders until the guide-plates are lowered.

Above the cylinders is a horizontally-reciprocating carrier 17, runningon guide-rods 18 19 on each side of the upper portion of theaforementioned main frame 0. This reciprocating carrier 17 has avertically-moving parallel bar 20, which supports the soldering andhollow heating irons 7t, supplied with gas through flexible connections21, said bar being kept in place by upwardly-projecting pins 22 on thereciprocating frame 23, while the amount of vertical play is regulatedby adjustment bolts or stops 51 on said carrier, as illustrated in Fig.2.

In the heads 24 of the upwardly-projecting pins 22, forming thebearings, is mounted a spindle 25, upon which are secured cams 26,adapted to depress the bar 20, carrying the soldering-irons, when thehandle 27 is turned downwardly, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 4.

When the soldering operation is completed, the carrier is pushed back,and springs 28 on the pins 22, with the assistance, if necessary, of thespring 29, attached at one end to an arm 30 of the handle, raise theirons to the position shown in full lines in Fig. 4.

The points 31 of the iron are of mild steel dovetailed into the hollowcast-steel body, as illustrated in Fig. 2, so that in the event ofwearing they can be readily replaced.

The space between the guides or molds .J determines the width of theseam, each of said inclined guides being made laterally adjustable, asshown in Figs. 1 and 2, for the purpose. I

The lumps of solder may be fed by hand, having been previously cut tothe desired size, or bars of solder 33 (one for each cylinder) may bearranged on an inclined tray 34 at the rear, while a cutter 35, attachedto one of the lever-arms 5 by a connecting-rod 36, as illustrated inFigs. 1, 2, and 5, and operating at the same time as the guides aredepressed, serves to cut off the requisite amount, (determined by anadjustable spring stop-piece 37,) and said lumps fall by gravity alongchutes 38 onto said guides.

At each of the cylinders where the adjacent edges of the can-body meetsmall strips of aluminium 39 (see Fig. 6) are let into the surface, sothat in the event of the solder sweating over the ends of the can-bodyit will prevent the latter from adhering to the cylinder. Holes 40 arealso provided at the forward end of cylinders, so that any solder thatmay run off the cans will be caught in the cylinders.

The irons are cleaned by Weak acid contained in vessels 41, secured toarms 42, adapted to be raised up to said irons when in their rearwardposition by means of hand-levers 43, pivoted to brackets 44 on the sidesupport 0. The rear ends of said levers engage in openings 45 inbrackets 46 on said arms 42, and said brackets are adapted to slidevertically on guide-rails 47 on the side support 0 when the forward endsof the levers are depressed, all as shown more clearly in Figs. 10 andll.

As previously stated, the apparatus can be readily adjusted to suit themanufacture of difierent-sized can-bodies by substituting varying-sizedcylinders having a lug 48 with a feather 49, which can be readilyinserted in a corresponding hole in the bracket a and tightened up by anut. The curved spring clamps or grips e are slid laterally on the barsfand g, and when adjusted are secured by set-nuts, (shown in thedrawings,) while the ejectors s are withdrawn and clamped by setnuts inone of the holes 50, Fig. 4, in the short standards If, said standardsbeing adapted to slide laterally between the bars u for this purpose.

Fig. 9 is a rear elevation of the bracket a and shows in dotted linesthe positions of a smaller and larger cylinder upon it, while Figs. 1,4, 6, 7, 8, and 9 generally illustrate the means of adjustment.

Although the apparatus is shown in the drawings as adapted to solder orjoin the seams of two can-bodies at a time, it will be obvious that withthe multiplication of the operating parts any number of can-bodies maybe seamed at each cycle of operations.

The sequence of operations is as follows: The partially formed or bentmetal blanks to form the can-bodies h are slid onto the cylinders d fromthe front with the meeting edges uppermost, as illustrated in Fig. 6,the lower edges abutting against the spring-lugs 13, projecting throughthe cylinder. Then by releasing a spring trip-catch 12, holding thepedal Z; (or otherwise,) the clamps e are caused to grip thepartially-formed can-bodies v the joint to be made is dropped betweenthe guides 9, the vertically-moving bar 20 and the irons which itcarries are depressed, and the movable carrier 17 then drawn forwardhorizontally'by the handle 27, (or otherwise,)

' thereby causing the adjacent edges of the partially-formed can-bodiesto be soldered by the passage of the irons. This step may be repeated,if necessary. Finally, by depressin g the pedal Z (or otherwise) theguide-plates are raised and side clamps 6 released, while theejector-wires s are drawn forward, so as to cast or throw the joinedcan-body off the cylinder onto an inclined chute 32, down which it runsinto any convenientreceptacle, said ejector-wires being returned readyfor the next operation.

Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my saidinvention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare thatwhat I claim is 1. Apparatus for soldering or joining seams ofcan-bodies, comprising a cylinder of the diameter of the can-bodiessuitably mounted on the frame of the machine in combination with curvedspring-clamps slidably mounted to move toward and from said cylinder,and means for causing said clamps to grip the can-body externally andhold it about the cylinder and then release the same, substantiall y asset forth.

2. Apparatus for soldering or joining the seams of can-bodies,comprising a cylinder of the diameter of the can-bodies suitably mountedon the frame of the machine, a pair of bars slidably mounted in theframe, a clamp carried by each of said bars, said clamps being located,respectively, on opposite sides of said cylinder, a coil-spring fittedto each of said bars and operating to hold. the clamps in normalengagement with a can-body inserted on said cylinder, and means formoving said bars to draw the clamps away from the canbody.

3. In apparatus forsolderingorjoining the' seams of can-bodies, ejectormechanism'consisting of levers operating a reciprocating traveler havinga spring-hook in combination with an inclined sliding block on aguide-rail, a releasing-lug and a returning-spring coiled around theguide -rail substantially as set forth.

4:. In apparatus for soldering or joining the seams of can-bodies a pairof ejector-wires mounted adjustably in short standards between a pair oftransverse bars, blocks thereon, guide-rails for said blocks and acoiled returning-spring in combination with a leveroperated travelerhaving a spring-hook, guiderails therefor, and a rigid releasing-lugsubstantially as set forth.

5. In apparatus for soldering or joining the seams of can-bodies, a pairof laterally-adjustable and vertically-moving inclined aluminiumguide-plates mounted on pillars on a horizontal bar connected to avertically-slid ing rod substantially as set forth.

6. In apparatus for soldering or joining the seams of can-bodies, ahorizontally-reciprocating carrier supporting a vertically-movingparallel bar, heating-irons depending from said bar and Working in saidcarrier, and means for guiding, depressing and raising said bar,substantially as set forth.

7. In apparatus for soldering or joining the seams of can-bodies thecombination with a horizontally-reciprocating carrier of a parallel barsupporting the heating-irons and moving vertically upon upwardlyprojecting guide-pins thereon, adjustment bolts or stops to regulate theamount of vertical play, cams on a spindle operated by a crank todepress said parallel bar and springs for raising same substantially asset forth.

' 8. In apparatus for soldering or joining the seams of can-bodies, thecombination with an inclined tray adapted to contain a bar of solder, ofa cutter cooperating with said tray, vertically-movable guide-plates forclamping the can-bodies adjacent to the seams, mechanism for raising andlowering said guideplates, means operatively connecting said mechanismwith said cutter, whereby the latter will be actuated to cut the solderas the guide-plates are depressed, and a chute leading from said tray tosaid guide-plates for conveying the cut solder thereto, substantially asset forth.

'9. In apparatus for soldering or joining the seams of can-bodies, acylinder having a.

curved outer edge and provided in its upper side with a hole throughwhich the excess solder may run, substantially as set forth.

10. In apparatus for soldering or joining the seams of can-bodies, incombination with a longitudinally-movable carriage supportipga jvertically-movable, depending solderin g-iron GEORGE WILLIAM BERRY.

Witnesses: Y

EDWARD WATERS, EDWARD WATERS, Jr.

IIO

